A popular method of growing seedlings is the Chinese method, which is widely used due to its effectiveness. It works exclusively on hybrid and indeterminate varieties. The bottom line is that seedlings stretched out in pots are cut at the height of the cotyledonous leaves, then the sprout is immersed in water (where it gives roots) or buried in the ground.
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Features of the method
Gardeners are always looking for a way not only not to lose crops, but also to grow a strong, viable plant. Gardeners are divided into two camps. The first are those who buy ready-made seedlings, the second are those who grows it myself.
Today, no one will say why the method of growing seedlings was called Chinese, because it has nothing to do with this country and, most likely, they did not hear anything about it. On Russian soil, they began to use it since the days of the USSR.
When using this method, the sprout ceases to stretch, and, under stress, becomes wider. Such seedlings give a low flower bunch and a good harvest.
The number of tomatoes on one bush is laid genetically and does not depend on the method of growing. The Chinese method has advantages and disadvantages.
The benefits include the following:
- resistance of seedlings to late blight;
- simplicity in leaving;
- speed of readiness for landing in open ground.
You may be interested in:The Chinese method has disadvantages:
- seedlings require additional shelter;
- average survival (not more than 75% of plants survive after pruning);
- sprouts need additional lighting.
The minuses of this method include early (one month before the recommended on the packaging date) sowing seeds.
Technological process
The technology for growing seedlings in the Chinese way differs from the standard one in terms of sowing seeds (a month earlier than usual), caring for plants, hardening and picking.
Sowing
Not all varieties are suitable for growing tomatoes. The Chinese method is used for hybrids and indeterminate tomatoes. Seeds can be purchased at the store or taken from the previous harvest from your garden. If the seed is bought processed, it is not necessary to prepare it for planting, it can be sown in a dry form. An unprocessed seed is prepared: wrapped in wet gauze and left in a warm place for two to three days.
Seeds are planted in pre-prepared soil. It can be purchased at a flower shop and distributed among containers in this way: the bottom layer is a drainage two centimeters high (expanded clay, pebbles, broken brick), and the soil itself is on top.
Tomatoes are sown this way:
- Grooves are made in the ground at a distance of 4 centimeters from one another.
- In each groove at a distance of 2 centimeters from each other, seeds are laid out.
- The seeds are sprinkled with soil with a thickness of at least 0.5 centimeters and sprayed from the spray gun.
- Containers with seeds are covered with a film and put in heat (24-260FROM).
When the first seedlings appear on the surface of the soil (this happens after four to six days), the film is removed.
Seedling care
Seedling care includes:
- Regular soil moisture.
- Lighting.
- Maintain a comfortable temperature.
- Creating a greenhouse “effect”.
For seedlings to appear on time, that is, on the fourth to sixth day, the seeds will need heat. To do this, cover the containers with glass or film and put on the windowsill above the battery or on the floor next to it.
Shoots should spend time before a dive at different day and night temperatures. In the afternoon it should be at the level of 22-240C, and at night - 18-200C. Seedlings, which are at night in a room with a low temperature, hardens, becomes strong and subsequently easily transfers the transplant to open ground.
Pick
The Chinese method has two types of dive: in the ground and in the water. The tomato is ready to dive about thirty days after sowing the seeds. By the thirtieth day, the plant already has three real leaves.
Dive in the water:
- Water is prepared: it is filtered and kept in a container for at least a day, warmed up to room temperature.
- Pour water into plastic glasses.
- In each glass, a part of the seedlings without root is lowered strictly to the leaves.
- Cover the glasses with foil and clean in a dry, dark and cool place for about seven days.
- If everything goes well, in a week roots will appear on the seedlings.
- Seedlings with roots are transplanted into the prepared soil.
Dive into the ground:
- Prepare containers: in the bottom of small plastic cups make holes to drain excess water.
- Pour into the glasses the same soil in which tomato seeds were grown.
- In each glass with soil, a part of the seedlings without root is lowered strictly to the leaves.
- Watering the seedlings.
- Cover the glasses with foil and clean in a dry, dark and cool place for about five days.
- Five days later, the film is removed and seedlings are transferred to the windowsill above the battery.
Care
After a pick, not all seedlings will survive. There will be no more than 75% of the initial seedlings. In order not to lose them, seedlings need to be taken care of. Tomatoes undergoing stress do not grow for a long time, but the stem of the plant becomes wider, and the leaves grow in size.
Dive seedlings for this period will require:
- regular airing;
- adequate lighting;
- proper watering.
You may be interested in:If the seedlings do not have additional lighting with lamps, it is regularly rotated so that the plant is even, without tilt and distortions. During the growth period of the new root system, seedlings are rarely watered, and the water that has gone through the drainage holes into the sump needs to be drained.
Transplant to the ground
Rooted tomatoes are planted in the ground when the risk of night frost will be minimal. The exact date depends on the region and the recommendations of the lunar calendar. By the time of planting on the beds, seedlings should be healthy, strong and low.
Seedlings grown according to the Chinese method will not be very high, but the first ovary will appear close to the ground, so that it does not lie on the ground and does not rot, it will need to be tied up.
Transplanting seedlings in open ground do so:
- For a day, seedlings in glasses are well watered.
- The seedlings dug in the open ground are lowered together with an earthen lump from a cup.
- Seedlings are covered with soil and well watered.
Top dressing
After the seedlings are in the open ground, it is fed according to the scheme:
- the first organic top dressing after 1-1.5 weeks;
- the second mineral after 1-1.5 weeks;
- the third feeding in 1-1.5 weeks organic and so on (alternating mineral organic fertilizers).
Mineral dressing is a solution that includes:
- water - 10 liters;
- superphosphate - 2 tablespoons;
- potassium sulfate - 2 tablespoons;
- ammonium nitrate - 1 tablespoon.
Organic dressing is a solution that includes manure and water. Depending on the type of manure, the ratio will be as follows:
- 10 liters of water per 0.5 kg are required for chicken;
- on pork, cow and horse - 10 liters of water per 1 kg;
- goat, sheep and rabbit do in two stages; on the first, 1 kg of litter is diluted in 1 liter of water, after two days it is diluted with 9 liters of water.
For each tomato bush, 0.5 liters of organic or mineral solution are required, which is poured at the very base, after watering the plants with warm clean water.
The Chinese method of growing tomato seedlings is one of the most effective for obtaining strong and disease-resistant plants.
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I wonder why the Chinese way? I have a summer house since 1980 and at that time I was already diving seedlings in this way, there were a lot of seedlings for survival. I didn’t see the difference. Pinching the central root, I think, gives an effect when diving and seedling survival is almost 100 percent.